After starting off last month at Cal-Expo with a pair of costly miscues, Aston Boko closed out 2011 with a mistake-free mile for owner/trainer Marco Rios and regular pilot Rich Wojcio.

The newly-turned five-year-old trotter, who has often done his best work from off the pace, took matters into his own hands last weekend. He took his rivals coast to coast and held a three-and-a-half-length advantage when he hit the wire first.

“Aston Boko is a very talented trotter,” Wojcio said after the victory. “But like many horses, he has to overcome conformation issues, which in turn creates lameness issues. He gives 1,000 per cent every week, and if he was built a little differently, we probably never would have seen him here.”

Wojcio has pointed out that Rios has done a great job with the son of Windsongs Legacy.

“And don’t forget what he’s done (what Rios has done) with El Azteca,” he added. The latter made a clean sweep of the California Sire Stakes for the two-year-old trotting colts this past fall with Rios not only owning and training, but also doing the driving.

One of the most difficult tasks a driver can be handed is getting a troubled trotter around the track without breaking, and Wojcio was asked about his process.

“Driving tricky trotters is about having a lot more patience and some luck. Sometimes you have to concede some ground during a race or give up a position until your trotter finds a gait or comfort zone.

“That can be difficult because there are times this can cost you a win, but on the other hand it may help the horse gain confidence for future weeks.”

(Cal-Expo)